Anyone with facial scarring, whether it be from acne, a surgical procedure, or an injury, know that scars form slowly and quietly but don’t go away with the same ease. Before modern dermatology, patients with scarring were forced to simply live with their skin and the self-esteem damage it caused. But fortunately, medical science and technology has come a long way in scar treatments. For some patients, the most effective way to minimize facial scarring is with surgical treatments like grafting, fat transfer, subcisions. However, for other patients, non-surgical options can offer satisfying results with less downtime. As a tribute to how far cosmetic dermatology has come, below we’ve highlighted some of the scar removal technology that makes a difference in our patients’ lives day after day.

Réjuvapen®
Scars form when the body works toward healing a wound in the skin. If the body produces too much or too little collagen, a scar appears as an area of uneven texture. Réjuvapen® uses an applicator with tiny, short needles that create microscopic wounds in the skin in and around the scars. This breaks up the old collagen and causes the body to produce new collagen to repair the tiny wounds. This controlled healing process not only minimizes the appearance of scars and creates a smoother texture, but has a rejuvenating effect on the treated skin. Before Réjuvapen®, this procedure used dermal rollers, which had similar needles on a small cylinder that was rolled across the treatment area. However, Réjuvapen® provides a cleaner and more precise treatment by using needles in a straight up-and-down motion on an applicator that is small enough to be more maneuverable with the contours of the patient’s face.

Fractionated Lasers
Like Réjuvapen®, fractionated lasers minimize the appearance of scars by creating microscopic wounds to break up old collagen and promote the production of fresh, smoother collagen. Unlike CO₂ lasers that were originally used in laser skin resurfacing treatments, fractional lasers like the SmartXide DOT™ Laser and the Fraxel® laser leave surrounding skin unaffected and leave space between the small perforations they create. This allows the skin to heal more quickly and more smoothly, allowing patients to be back on the go with little downtime.

Infini™
The Infini™ facial rejuvenation system, which also addresses lax skin and wrinkles, utilizes the same micro-needling concept as Réjuvapen®. However, Infini™ incorporates a high degree of customizability with adjustable-length needles so that each patient receives a treatment that is as gentle or comprehensive as their scarring requires. The Infini™ system also sends radio frequency (RF) energy into the treatment zones created by the tiny needles in order to encourage faster collagen growth and further enhance results.

DiamondTome™ Microdermabrasion
As one of our gentler scar removal treatments, the DiamondTome™ microdermabrasion wand at Skin Medics Medial Spa can minimize the appearance of slight, superficial scars. One of our skilled providers will use the DiamondTome™ wand to exfoliate the skin and separate dead and damaged surface skin cells, while gentle suction extracts these unwanted cells from the skin. When the more vibrant skin beneath has come to the surface, we will apply a massage-like topical medication to stimulate collagen production that will further repair and enhance the skin’s texture.

At Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, we strive to provide our patients with the best results possible, and we recognize that this requires a combination of professional expertise and the best medical technology available. By continuing to highlight the tools and treatments at our disposal, we hope to educate our patients about the vast number of options in general and cosmetic dermatology, and to help them understand that they don’t need to simply accept skin conditions that damage their self-esteem. To learn more about the treatments available for your skincare concerns, schedule a consultation with us or join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for daily advice and information about the growing field of dermatology.